“Life is a challenge,” says the actor. “To be 50 and have experiences and think you have everything under control, and then it hits you — that’s what life is… Life is tragicomic. You need a certain sense of humor.”

However, Gossip Cop has learned that many of Cruise’s comments were taken out of context and were actually answers to questions having nothing to do with anything but his professional life.

A rep tells us much of what’s circulating from the interview was “made up.”